As a gay man I'm getting really sick of how quickly the gay community has turned on Obama. Many claim he's turned on us, but I disagree. Yes, some of his decisions have disappointed me, but there has also been some good reasons for some of them.
For example, Obama is getting ready to tackle health care. He needs support from both sides to get this through. The Republicans are going to fight this tooth and nail. I've read that Obama is trying not to antagonize the Republicans prior to getting this passed. Is that right? NO! Is that politics? Unfortunately yes. While I would like to see Don't Ask, Don't Tell redacted and civil unions established, I honestly believe health care is the bigger issue right now. My partner and I have made it this long without the benefit of a civil union. I can go a bit longer if it means health care for all Americans.
Regarding the Obama administration asking the Supreme Court not to hear the Don't Ask, Don't Tell case, there was a reason for that. The court right now is still stacked conservatively. If the court established that Don't Ask, Don't Tell was legal (which under the current lineup they very well might have done), then it would be that much harder for Obama to redact it. Yes, procedureally all he needs to do is issue an executive order (as I understand it), but by doing so he would be going directly against a Supreme Court ruling. Can you imagine how that would play out? The right wing would be all over the media claiming Obama was abusing his power by "reversing" a Supreme Court decision. Obama would be on the right side of the issue, but by asking the court not to hear this case, he avoids having to be put in that position altogether.
Keep in mind Obama has been in office less than six months. I think it's a bit early to judge him. The gay community could stand to learn a little patience and pragmatism. I believe change will come, but it doesn't just happen overnight.
Just my 2¢. (I'll start preparing for the onslaught of comments disagreeing with me.)
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Kevin Lee
SpiritManSF
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Eric Hudson
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"Hello," she lied
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Comments
(But on Don't Ask, that was passed by Congress, and signed into law, and now requires Congress to overturn it.)
Thank you for the clarification on that. I wasn't entirely sure.
That clarification however makes even more of an argument for why Obama was right in asking the SCOTUS not to hear the case. Many congressmen/women would have been VERY hesitant to overturn DADT if the SCOTUS issued a ruling in favor of the policy.
I oppose people who continue to support torture of "detainees," who continues to allow habeas corpus to be suspended, who is looking for a way to exterminate pesky detainees without a trial or admissible evidence upon the submission of a guilty plea (likely brought about by torture), who has put aside real health care reform in favor of a program which favors insurers and their payees, etc.
I would not have turned my back on him so fully if all of this hadn't happened first. I could wait. I could. It's just a symptom of a much larger problem. A man who promised one thing and then did the opposite over and over again.
The man is a war criminal who supports the continued thieving from taxpayers and doesn't care. It wouldn't hurt so much if I hadn't believed him. I did believe, and I donated, and I campaigned. He is not the man I helped elect. Where did he go?
I don't really give a crap about the rest of it any more.